• Health Policy and Management
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2006

Recently, there has been prevailing of the combined utilization (CU) with herbs and prescribed drugs in medical therapies in the world. But the information about frequency, efficacy and safety of this CU has not well known in Korea, yet. This study aimed to identify the status of CU by Koreans, and to inquire which side effects of CU represent to those people. A self-completed questionnaire survey was performed through each health examination center in twenty general hospitals and one oriental hospital. Of the initial 2,100 health examinees, 1,851 were participated in this survey, resulting in a response rate of 88.1%. The proportion of CD was 26.3%. The most commonly mentioned reason of CD was 'to promote general health and well-being' (17l persons, 35.5%). The main route of taking CD was self-purchase at drugstore or at herbs market, followed by the prescription of (oriental)physicians. 33.0% (151 persons) of those who took the CD rated it as effective. 93 respondents (19.8%) were experienced several adverse effects including nausea, fatigue, and dizziness. The growing simultaneous use of herbal products and pharmaceutical drugs by Korean consumers may be continuously increased the risk of herb-drug interactions. The medical professionals should be provided with comprehensive and up-to-date information about potential benefits and risks of herbs and prescribed drugs. In the future studies it may be recommended to deal common cold, health promotion, indigestion, headache, and hypertension for the effect and safety of the CD by well-organized prospective study design.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.1-18
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• 2008

As medical insurance had been implemented for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) from January 1, 2005, this study investigated whether there had been any change in the amount of the medical care utilization of patients who undertook MRI before and after the insurance coverage, and was to examine factors affecting the amount of medical care utilization of MRI. Data were collected from patients who undertook MRI before and after the insurance coverage for a year at a general hospital in Kyeanggi-do. $X^2$ and t-test were used for the analysis of their general characteristics, the number of MRI, and its medical costs before and after the insurance coverage, and hierarchical multiple regression analysis for the factors affecting the amount of the medical care utilization of MRI. The results of this study were as follows. First, the number of MRI after the insurance coverage was significantly decreased. Second, there was no significant difference in the total medical costs of MRI after the insurance coverage, but a significant difference was found in patient's share of medical costs. Third, six variables were found to be affecting the amount of the medical care utilization of MRI, and the variables showed to lead the number of MRI decrease after the insurance coverage. These six factors explained 21.4% of the total number of MRI. As MRI had been covered by insurance, the use of MRI and patient's share of the costs were deceased, but the total medical costs were not affected. Reasons for that could be found in that MRI insurance, different from the case of CT insurance coverage, was allowed not to cover some items and the kinds of diseases subjected to the insurance coverage were extremely limited, lowering insurance prescription rate. In addition to that, the average medical cost of MRI was not changed after the insurance coverage. Therefore, as future measures for the MRI insurance, coverage, it should be considered to allow insurance coverage to no coverage items and to expand the scope of benefit coverage, or to lower patient's share of the costs. Furthermore, researches should be done to explore how recipients will act and how suppliers will react if the coverage is expanded, including expanding the scope of coverage and reducing patient's share of the costs, as well as to conduct research on its economic analysis according to case mix.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.75-81
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• 2010

Objectives : It was investigated new herbal prescription HT005 supported by traditional Korean medicine has a activity on the longitudinal bone growth of rats. HT005 were consisted of the root of Angelica sinensis, the fruit of Alpinia oxyphylla, the root of Astragalus membranaceus, the stem of Eleutherococcus senticosus, and the root of Dioscorea japonica, and Poria cocos. Method : To investigate the effect on longitudinal bone growth in adolescent male Sprague-Dawley rats, the longitudinal length of growth plate was measured directly by the tetracycline fluorescent labeling method and chondrocyte staining method. HT005 administered orally for four days, and the tetracycline was injected twice on the growth plate of the animals for fluorescent dying. The rate of longitudinal bone growth was measured the length between the tetracycline bands which fixed on the 3rd day and 5th day after injection. Cresyl violet was also used to stain the chondrocytes in the growth plate. The length of growth plate after administration was compared. Expression of IGF-1 and BMP-2 in the growth plate was investigated by immunohistochemistry. Results : HT005 showed a significant longitudinal bone growth which was $301.0{\pm}6.1\;{\mu}m/day$ at the dose of 100 mg/kg and $283.8{\pm}1.25\;{\mu}m/day$ (p < 0.001)at the dose of 10 mg/kg of HT005, compared to control group by the tetracycline fluorescent labeling method. HT005 showed a significant chondrocyte length on growth plate which was measured $797.19{\pm}3.31\;{\mu}m$ (p < 0.001) at the dose of 100 mg/kg and $720.14{\pm}2.19$ (p < 0.001) ${\mu}m$ at the dose of 10 mg/kg compared to the control group by cresyl-violet staining method. Both the number and intensity of BMP-2 and IGF-1 positive cells were increased in the hypertrophic zone of growth plate. There was a significant correlation between BMP-2 and IGF-1 expression and heights of chondrocytes in growth plate. Conclusions : Treatment of HT005 on Sprague-Dawley rats markedly increased the longitudinal bone growth. Therefore, HT005 may be an alternative herbal source to growth hormone as it promotes bone growth in children afflicted by growth retardation.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.109-118
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• 1999

The need for and components of a contemporary community pharmacy externship for pharmacy students have not been clearly identified in Korea. Mail survey was performed among 20 college of pharmacy deans and 800 community pharmacists to analyze the current status and develop a consensus regarding major focus area and criteria of community pharmacy externship to be implemented under the separation of dispensary from medical practice in year 2000. Mail survey yielded $80\%\;and\;23.5\%$ response rate for pharmacy school deans and community pharmacists, respectively. Of the 16 pharmacy schools that responded 14 said they have externship program in hospital pharmacy, and only 8 pharmacy schools responded of having externship program for community pharmacy. However, these community pharmacy programs lacked criteria and standard guideline for the externship. The results of survey revealed that community pharmacy externship program for students should be organized and directed toward developing expert knowledge and skills in pharmacy practice activities, clinical services, communications, pharmacy management, and professionalism. Pharmacy practice components should include competencies and skills in computer application, prescription processing, dispensing, pharmaceutical compounding, Narcotics Control Law application, maintenance and provision of drug information, and laws and regulations. Clinical service components should include the ability to identify patient's drug-related problems, provide long-term patient care and appreciate drug therapy services. Communication skills should be taught to effectively express his/her professional opinion, deduce the needs of others, utilize appropriate techniques and media to communicate ideas and conduct a patient interview and to obtain patient drug history. Pharmacy management skills should be taught to be efficient in medical insurance and drug control process. It was found that professionalism, morality, pharmacy practice experience, ability to provide clinical services, collect and provide drug information and regality are important criteria of preceptors. Externship sites should possess the ability to stock various drugs, access and provide diverse pharmacy services and should have private patient counseling area. Most pharmacists agreed that top 200 drugs' generic and brand name, indications, dosage, side effects, and contraindication should be instructed during the externship. It was also found that student and preceptor should be evaluated for their performances during the externship. This information will be incorporated into teaming objectives for students and to develop Academic Extemship Program Guidelines.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.78 no.2
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• pp.92-98
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• 2015

Background: Varenicline, a selective partial agonist/antagonist of the ${\alpha}4{\beta}2$ nicotinic receptor, has proven effectiveness for smoking cessation by several randomized, controlled trials. Because few studies have evaluated the long-term efficacy of varenicline, we tried to evaluate the smoking status of varenicline users up to 3 years after the initial prescription of the drug. Methods: We interviewed varenicline users who were prescribed the drug from June 2007 to May 2010 by telephone, from June 2010 to May 2011. Results: One-hundred and thirty-three of 250 varenicline users (53.2%) were available for the survey. Seven-day continuous abstinence from smoking was adhered to by 17 of 39 respondents (43.6%) at 1 year, and 11 of 36 (30.6%) and 19 of 58 (32.8%) at 2 and 3 years since the first use of varenicline, respectively. Compared to current smokers, successful quitters were older (55.0 years vs. 49.9 years, p=0.01), had better compliance to the 12-week course (27.7 vs. 9.3%, p=0.01), and had taken varenicline longer (10.1 vs. 5.9 weeks, p=0.01). Fifty-four of 71 current smokers (76.1%) were willing to stop smoking in the near future. The preferred ways to cease smoking were will-power (48.1%), varenicline (25.9%), nicotine replacement therapy (11.1%), and others (14.9%). Conclusion: Smokers should be encouraged to stick to the proven way for recommended period of time for successful cessation of smoking.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.155-163
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• 1996

The current ASTM C227-90 is a prescription on the mortar-bar method. This recornrnends that mortar-bars should be made using a mixing ratio by weight of 675 grams aggregate to 300 grams cement, and their initial lengths should be measured in $24{\pm}2$ hours. This method emphasizes that the prepare sample mortar-bars and calculate expansion rates of them. This method requires constant G values (effective gauge lengths) of denominator in the calculation formula, which are fixed either at 10 inches or 250mm. This study, based on experimental approaches, reexamines the suggestions made by those two prescriptions above and important results are summarized in the following. 1. Not only alkali-aggregate reaction but also interaction of interstitial and gel water are responsible for expansion of mortar-bars. This requires partial modification of the current ASTM C227-90. 2. A mixing ratio by volume rather than by weight of aggregate to cement is recommendable for measuring the amount of expansion resulting from alkali-aggregate reaction and from interstitial water. 3. The method of when to measure initial lengths and how to calculate expansion rate suggested by ASThI C227-90 and Cl90-93a should partly be modified for more accurate results.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.41-52
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• 2001

The purpose of this research is to plan the activation of university health business through the appraisal of the function and role of university health centers. To be more specific: Firstly, analyze the facility, personnel, health service of the health centers, Secondly, appraise the role and function of the health centers, and Thirdly, consider the activation plans of health centers. The research method taken was the study of surveys conducted and written research materials on 5 women's universities in Seoul. These materials where descriptively analyzed by converting the surveys, facility and usage of health center and current personnel status in to percentage. The major results of the research are as follows: Unlike as stated in each university's additional clause on the number of personnel were working. This lack of specialized personnel resulted into lack of specialized and various services. Medicine for external application were stocked well whereas only simple medicine for internal application were on shelf and were issued only with a doctor's prescription. Universities with a full-time doctor had various available equipments. One university conducting dental treatment was equipped with indirect chest camera, dental X-ray, unit, chair(dental treatment chair) and even supersonic, electrocardiogram were available. In the case of D women's university, the number of beds compared to the number of students was lower than that of the other 3 universities, to the total size of the university was smaller than that of the other 3 universities. Among health prevention and care matters, health consultation was the only matter practised by all universities. Uniquely, there was one university that hosted epidemic prevention business. There are various tests given by each university, with each showing many differences, but some universities did not even conduct these tests. Vaccinations were usually being conducted through commission. All universities provided basic treatment, therefore matters concerning treatment at health centers were being conducted well. Concerning the management of equipment and documents, all the matters were being conducted except one university where instead of a student medical record, they were using a daily record. Because these were women's universities, most of the educations were on women's health. The subjects of these educations included: sex, contraception, prevention and control of tuberculosis, obesity, mouth hygiene, alcohol, geriatric disease, mental health and first-aid. The rate of health center usage is growing. Being women's universities, the service and treatment practised were mostly concerning sex education.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.969-979
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• 2003

Gamisoamsan is a prescription originated in Soamsan which is known as an anti-cancer remedy in the traditional Korean Medicine. To enhance the synergic effects of anti-cancer activity of Soamsan, this study reconstituted the original components of Soamsan with a slight modification and produced a novel herbal remedy, namely Gamisoamsan. To investigate the effects of Gamisoamsan on anti-cancer reaction, I studied the effects of Gamisoamsan on angiogenesis via chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay, corneal neovascularization assay and the effects on expression of growth factor which are VEGF, TGF-β, bFGF and IMUP-1. Anti-cancer effects of Gamisoamsan was also abserved through hematological parameters, tumor volume and survival rate in mice. Gamisoamsan inhibited embryonic angiogenesis of blood vessels in CAM assay and inhibited neovascularization of ral cornea. Gamisoamsan reduced cell proliferation in HT1080 cells and IC50 was 2.18 ㎎/㎖ Gamisoamsan reduced the expression of VEGF, TGF-β, bFGF and IMUP-1 which was known as vascular growth factor and this effects of Gamisoamsan was predominant than VP-16. The treatment of Gamisoamsan decreased the CT-26 cell inoculated-tumor volume in mice colon adenocarcinoma and increased mice survival which was inoculated CT-26 cells. The results of the present study suggest that Gamisoamsan extracts has a potential anti-tumor activity and may be an useful remedy to prevent and/or treat cancer.

• 한국노년학
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.683-694
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• 2010

This study was to investigate the effects of aquarobics exercise on body composition, fitness and health related quality of life (sf-36) in elderly women and to provide basic data to exercise prescription. The subjects were the 60~70 years old seniors who participated in exercise program at health promotion center and had been divided into exercise(N=25) and control(N=30) group, respectively. Aquarobics exercise was performed twice per week for 8 weeks at 40~70% heart rate reserve(exercise intensity) and body composition, fitness and SF-36 were measured before and after exercise. In body composition, there were significance in weight(p=0.044), body mass index(p=0.038), and %fat(p=0.005) between groups before and after. In fitness, there were no significance in fitness such as chair stand, and chair sit and reach, but there were significance in 2-minute step(p<0.001), arm curl(p=0.005), back scratch(p=0.023), and 8-ft up and go(p<0.001) between groups. In SF-36, there were no significance in physical functioning, role limitation-physical, role limitation-emotional, social functioning, mental health, and vitality, but there were significance in bodily pain(p=0.039), and general health(p=0.024) between groups. It was found that aquarobics exercise was one of the good exercise types for the elderly to improve body composition and fitness. Also, there was positive effect on health-related quality of life partially.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.71-82
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• 2011

Purpose: To evaluate the biochemical control rate and the rate of side effects after performing permanent brachytherapy of localized prostate cancer. Materials and Methods: 67 patients with localized prostate cancer were treated with brachytherapy between April 2007 and December 2008. Of these, 43 patients who were followed up and did not receive external radiotherapy were evaluated for the change in prostate specific antigen (PSA) level and the occurrence of side effects. In total, 18 patients were classified as low risk, 19 patients as intermediate risk, and 6 patients as high risk. The prescription dose was 145 Gy. Results: A PSA increase greater than 2 ng/mL occurred in 2 patients (4.7%). Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) grade 1 and 2 acute urologic complications (UC) occurred in 40 and 3 patients, respectively. Further, 5 patients had RTOG grade 1 acute rectal complication (RC). The numbers of RTOG grade 1, 2, and 3 chronic UC were 1, 4, and 1, respectively. The numbers of RTOG grade 1, 2, and 4 chronic RC were 5, 10, and 3, respectively. The statistically significant risk factors (RF) of acute RC were the minimal dose in the most irradiated 0.1 cc volume ($D_{0.1cc}$, p=0.041) and absolute volume receiving 150% of the prescribed dose ($V_{150cc}$, p=0.038) in the entire rectum (ER). The percentage ($V_{100%}$, p=0.019) and absolute volume ($V_{100cc}$, p=0.047) in the involved rectum (IR) were also statistically significant. The RF of chronic RC were $V_{100%}$ (p=0.011) in the ER and the $D_{0.1cc}$ (p=0.049), $V_{100cc}$ (p=0.023) in the IR. The number of used seeds were related with acute UC (p=0.028). Conclusion: Permanent brachytherpy of localized prostate cancer showed a favorable short term biochemical control rate. As such, selective intermediate and high risk patients can be managed with permanent brachytherapy. The effort to reduce rectal complication is also necessary.